A Maryknoll Liturgical Year: Reflections on the Readings for Year C

As Maryknoll missioners read scripture, their mission experiences crossing into a new culture, sharing life with new communities bring fresh meanings of the texts to light. The reflections in this book, tied to the readings of the liturgical calendar, describe life in its fullest sharing the deep pain and struggle that people endure, as well as the hope for "a new heaven and a new earth." In a world where those who drive the global economy are blind to the grave physical and moral consequences of ignoring Earth's natural limits, scores of Maryknoll sisters, priests, brothers and lay missioners living in resource-poor and indigenous communities have embraced the principle of sufficiency. Reflecting on the words of scripture read from their unique vantage point, Maryknollers describe how people cope with climate changes; they celebrate the solutions people have employed and rejoice in the places where they find hope for the future of the planet. At the same time, Maryknollers celebrate diversity the fact that they are warmly welcomed into the communities in spite of differences in appearance, language, and culture. These are the kinds of stories elevated in the reflections in this book: stories of reconciliation, of inter-religious collaboration; stories of ways in which groups have overcome their differences to take on projects that serve the common good.